Released on: June 23, 2008, 12:37 pm

Press Release Author: Oak Ridge Press

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Stephen Della Valle discusses the problems with the
accessibility to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and what parents need to
know to educate them of the dangers

Press Release Body: (OAK RIDGE, NJ)-In recent months there has been a large increase
in teens and young adults abusing both illegal and prescription drugs. According to
www.drugwarfacts.org approximately 17,000 deaths per year are drug related. Other
reports indicate that amongst those numbers 1,400 are due to teen overdoses.

"Drug prevention starts at home, with the need for parents to educate their kids of
the dangers of substance abuse," says Stephen Della Valle, author of Rising Above
the Influence: A True Story About Alcohol, Drugs and Recovery. "Parents are the
first and most important line of defense against teenage drug use."

"The reason for the sudden increase in use amongst teens is the accessibility of
both prescription and over-the-counter drugs," says Stephen. "Kids are lulled into
thinking prescription drugs are safe and not as hazardous as illegal "street" drugs
such as cocaine or heroin," says Stephen.

Reports from the U.S. Department of National Drug Control Policy indicate that 2.1
million teenagers abused prescription drugs in recent years and the most commonly
abused drug amongst twelve to thirteen-year-olds was also prescription drugs.

As president of Turning Point Rehabilitation Center in Verona, NJ, Stephen is very
adamant about bringing awareness to parents for the need to lock medication up and
not allow it to be available at will.

"It is proven that children are less likely to experiment with any type of drug if
their parents talk to them regularly about them," says Stephen. "Addiction is a
serious issue that ruins lives, tears families apart, and has will lead to only one
of two places-jail or death."

Stephen is all too familiar with the drug addict lifestyle. In Rising Above the
Influence, he candidly recounts his indoctrination into the world of substance abuse
as a young teenager; and the desperate, sometimes morbidly comical situations he
endured to support his heavy addictions to heroin, prescription drugs, cocaine and
alcohol.

"I believe my book can help people who have struggled with addiction or know
somebody that have," says Stephen. "If I am able to help just one person through my
book then it will be a huge success."

Rising Above the Influence is Stephen's honest and inspiring account of the depths
one man can fall to-and the heights he can achieve if only he reaches out a hand for
help.

Books are currently available through www.barnesandnoble.com and www.amazon.com.

For more information please visit www.risingabovetheinfluence.net


Web Site: http://www.risingabovetheinfluence.net

Contact Details: Oak Ridge Press
2 Comanche Trail
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438
973-349-8580
Christopher Cella